The 1.25-mile trail involves a steep 75-story hike into and out of the cavern. The month with the least visitors is Jan. Carlsbad Caverns is located in southeastern New Mexico in the Guadalupe Mountains. Carlsbad Caverns are amazingly impressive, and the Natural Entrance tour is a perfect way to see them. Brantley Lake State Park and Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park north of Carlsbad are open on a limited basis. Carlsbad Caverns National Park is open to the public every day of the year except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. On certain other national holidays, listed on the National Park Service website, entrance to Carlsbad Cavern is free. Following guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, Carlsbad Caverns National Park is increasing recreational access and services. Carlsbad Caverns National Park visitor center and cave tours will reopen today at noon following extensive air quality testing by industrial hygienists. The primary attraction of the park is the show cave, Carlsbad Cavern. Based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, access to Carlsbad Caverns National Park is as follows: This mountain range, which spans the border with Texas, is also home to Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Torres said park rangers are keeping an eye on capacity limits. Carlsbad, NM The first cavern entry is at 8:30 a.m. and the last entry at 2 p.m. Torres said visitors must adhere to COVID-19 health orders when visiting state parks. Visitors will still be able to enjoy the cavern by hiking the Natural Entrance Trail. So if you have a National Parks pass or Every Kid in a Park pass or something like that, the Carlsbad Caverns tour cost will be free. Carlsbad Caverns is home to over a million bats during the summer months and is largest open cavern in North America. Explore Carlsbad Caverns. Park roads, desert trails and picnic areas remain open for public use, the website indicated. Travel to Carlsbad Caverns National Park in southern New Mexico and you'll arrive at a landscape with more than 100 caves, have the opportunity to witness thousands of bats take flight into the Chihuahuan Desert, marvel at the beauty of ancient sea ledges and acid-dissolved limestone, and walk down what's been called “the road to hell.”. Tours require an additional fee on top of park admission, availability is limited, and reservations are highly recommended. She said use of trails, camping and backcountry hikes are prohibited. At Carlsbad Caverns National Park, the caverns will remain open but access to the caverns by elevators is closed until further notice except those with physical disabilities. Carlsbad Caverns National Park is open year round. Check the park’s official page when visiting Carlsbad Caverns, for specific time restrictions for entering and exiting the caves , based on seasons. Press Release Carlsbad Caverns National Park the Latest Target of Rushed Oil and Gas Leasing Process Apr 2018 The BLM's minuscule 10-day public scoping comment period for the nearly 200 parcel proposal comprising nearly 89,000 acres, some of which are about a mile from Carlsbad Caverns National Park, closes tonight. Robert Defer, CEO of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the reopening of Carlsbad Caverns. Carlsbad Caverns Natural Entrance Tour: Cavern is open! The park contains over 119 caves. The temporary closure at Carlsbad Caverns was implemented in March and Defer said the Chamber was receiving inquires from visitors asking when the closure would be lifted. She said park managers meet weekly to review the status of the closure. The Bat Flight Amphitheater is closed from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Flights may be observed from the visitor center parking lot, according to the website.